REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 223 



nsually destroys entirely. A nnmber are thns ruined by a single larva. 

 The method of \rork and the attitudes assumed by the hirvae are well 

 shown in the figure. When disturbed, or upon beinj^ touched, they raise 

 the abdomen and strike with it violently from one side to the other, the 

 end of the body swinging? around as i'ar forward as the head, which it 

 frequently strikes. While makiuix this violent motion they must neces- 

 sarily cling very firmly to the leaf with their thoracic legs, and indeed 

 it is diflficult to remove them without injury. 



The fidl-grown larva is of a uniform green color; the head is yellow- 

 ish-green ; the eyes black, with pale centers ; and the stigmata i)ale, 

 surrounded with a brownish ring. Upon abdominal segments 1 to 6 

 there is seen below the stigmatal line a dusky spot, which, upon examina- 

 tion with the lens, is seen to consist of two swellings, each with three 

 dusky warts, surmounted by a single hair, and a conical tubercle which 

 bears no hair. Above the anus there is a pair of short, thick, club- 

 shaped tubercles. From the habit of the larva, just described, of strik- 

 ing with its posterior end, it would seem possible that these tubercles 

 might emit some offensive fluid, although they have not been observed 

 to do so. At fuU size it is from 10 to 12'"" long (| inch). 



When it has ceased feeding the larva drops to the surface of the ground, 

 and there, amongst the leaves, grass, or other rubbish, spins itself a 

 tough, coarse, and rough oval dark-brown cocoon. In this it remains for 

 several days before transforming to a pupa, and issues as a perfect in- 

 sect in from two to three weeks after the commencement of the cocoon. 



The cocoons, although made upon the surface of the ground, are very 

 difficult to find on account of their brown color and the adhering parti- 

 cles of earth and dead vegetable material. 



The adidt insect is 6™" long (nearly ^ inch). Its general color is 

 dirty yellow, with a squarish black patch on top of the head ; the lateral 

 and anterior lobes of the thorax black ; and a transverse black patch on 

 top of each abdominal segment. The under side of the body is yel- 

 lowish ; anterior and midcUe legs yellowish ; tibiae and tarsi of posterior 

 legs nearly black. The antennae are half as long as the body, O-jointed; 

 the first and second joints very short; the third joint longest— as long 

 as fourth and fifth together; other joints decreasing in length. The 

 stigma, or dark spot at the anterior border of the wings, is yellowish- 

 brown, nearly black at its basal half. The wings esi>and IS""-^ (.59 inch). 



There are two and possibly three broods in a season. Tiie first larvae 

 were not noticed until August 30, and were nearly full grown. They 

 spun up September 6, and issued as adults September 24. The first 

 week in Octoljer other adults issued from their cocoons. October 2 lar- 

 vae were stOl found in all stages of growth. October 10 a search for 

 cocoons upon the surface of the ground under the trees revealed the fact 

 that aU that could be found w ere emx)ty. This demonstrated one of two 

 things, either that the insect customarily hibernates as an adult, or that 

 the cocoons found were all of the earlier brood, and that the hibernating 

 cocoons were to be found in securer quarters, say under the ground. In 

 either case the hope which we had gained from the habits of the earlier 

 brood of an easy method of extermination by burning the rubbish on 

 the surface of the ground during winter was thwarted. As to the usual 

 method of hibernation, we were forced to believe that it is double, either 

 as adult or as pupa. As just stated, perfect flies were issuing in the 

 breeding cases in October; while, on the other hand, one larva, which 

 spun up September 25, ilid not issue as a fly until March 2, while an- 

 other, which spun up September 30, only issued Mareh 23. 



